Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Victor Farias Moebus, Leonardo de Assuncao Pinto, Felipe Braz Nielsen Koptcke, Kelly Moura Keller, Marcos Aronovich, Luiz Antonio Moura Keller
Summary: This study evaluated the detoxification of Aflatoxin B1 and Zearalenone by three Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains isolated from bovine forage. The strains showed high adsorption rates for both mycotoxins and have potential for commercial applications.
FERMENTATION-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qian Lu, Ming Sui, Ya-Wen Luo, Jiao-Yang Luo, Mei-Hua Yang
Summary: This study assessed the toxicokinetics of Zearalenone-14-Glucoside (Z14G), a modified mycotoxin, to determine its potential risk. The research found that Z14G readily transformed into its parent form ZEN, distributed throughout the tissues, and was primarily excreted through urine. The presence of the metabolite alpha-ZEL in various samples also highlights the importance of biotransformation in Z14G exposure.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Clarisse Nobre, Alondra Gonzalez, Carolina Losoya, Jose A. Teixeira, Ruth Belmares, Luis Abrunhosa
Summary: In this study, it was found that powdered Pleurotus ostreatus has the potential to detoxify ochratoxin A and zearalenone through in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. The presence of an OTA-hydrolytic enzyme in the PO was observed, which could eliminate OTA, while ZEN was adsorbed by PO. However, the presence of feed matrices significantly reduced the bioaccessibility of mycotoxins and negatively affected the detoxification capacity of PO.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Edyta Ksieniewicz-Wozniak, Marcin Bryla, Dorota Michalowska, Agnieszka Waskiewicz, Tomoya Yoshinari
Summary: The study found that the malting process of wheat grain promotes secondary growth of Fusarium and mycotoxin biosynthesis, leading to a significant increase in toxin levels in malt. During this process, the synthesis of ZEN sulfate occurs instead of the typical glycosylation.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Valentina Scarpino, Francesca Vanara, Michael Sulyok, Rudolf Krska, Massimo Blandino
Summary: The study investigated the co-occurrence of various mycotoxins and fungal metabolites in maize food products and their fate during the dry-milling process. It was found that grain cleaning significantly reduced fungal metabolites, with different maize products showing varying levels of contamination.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yaling Cai, Zhiqi Zhang, Fang Dong, Zefeng Ma, Kai Fan, Zheng Han, Zhizhong Li, Zhihui Zhao
Summary: A reliable HPLC-MS/MS method was established for simultaneous detection of ZEN-14G and ZEN in rats. The method showed good selectivity, linearity, sensitivity, recovery, precision, and stability. The study revealed the kinetic and distribution profiles of ZEN-14G and ZEN in plasma, urine, and various tissues of rats after oral administration of ZEN-14G. Continuous attention should be paid to the co-exposure of ZEN and ZEN-14G due to their potential health risks.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Paula Llorens, Marta Herrera, Ana Juan-Garcia, Juan Jose Paya, Juan Carlos Molto, Agustin Arino, Cristina Juan
Summary: This review provides the latest information on ZEN biomarkers in humans, animals, and cell line cultures, highlighting the importance of determining specific biomarkers for estimating dietary intake and characterizing severity of ZEN exposure. The study also reveals the cytotoxic effects of oc-ZEL and beta-ZEL, as well as the oxidative stress effect and membrane integrity changes caused by ZEN exposure.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Jeroen Peters, Edward Ash, Arjen Gerssen, Ruud Van Dam, Maurice C. R. Franssen, Michel W. F. Nielen
Summary: This study demonstrates the controlled biotransformation of ZEN glycosides by Cunninghamella strains, showing significant differences in the production of ZEN glycosides between different strains.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Panagiotis D. Tassis, Nicole Reisinger, Veronika Nagl, Eleni Tzika, Dian Schatzmayr, Nikolaos Mittas, Athina Basioura, Ilias Michos, Ioannis A. Tsakmakidis
Summary: Deoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone (ZEN) have negative effects on boar fertility. Modified forms of DON and ZEN, such as de-epoxy-DON (DOM-1) and hydrolyzed ZEN (HZEN), have less impact on swine reproduction. In vitro experiments showed that DON negatively affected specific parameters of boar semen, while DOM-1 had no harmful effects. ZEN, on the other hand, affected almost all parameters and decreased viable spermatozoa while increasing abnormal spermatozoa.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhiqi Zhang, Yaling Cai, Kai Fan, Qingwen Huang, Xiuying Zhao, Haojie Cao, Zhihui Zhao, Emmanuel K. Tangni, Zheng Han
Summary: A reliable UHPLC-MS/MS method was developed for simultaneous determination of two mycotoxins in various feed products. The method was thoroughly validated and successfully applied to investigate 60 feed samples, revealing a high contamination rate and wide concentration range of the mycotoxins. This developed method is a specific and reliable tool for intensive monitoring of mycotoxins in feed matrices.
FRONTIERS IN CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Cem Erkmen, Burcin Bozal-Palabiyik, Hafsa Tayyab, Md. Zahirul Kabir, Saharuddin B. Mohamad, Bengi Uslu
Summary: This study evaluated the binding of the fourth-generation cephalosporin cefpirome (CFP) to human serum albumin (HSA) using multiple approaches such as fluorescence, absorption, voltammetric, and molecular docking. The results showed that CFP formed a complex with HSA through a static quenching mechanism. The binding affinity was moderate, and the complex was stabilized by van der Waals interactions and hydrogen bonds. Molecular docking studies indicated that CFP attached to site I of HSA mostly through hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding. The results of fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular docking were consistent.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marziyeh Hassanian, Hassan Aryapour, Alireza Goudarzi, Masoud Bezi Javan
Summary: This study evaluated the toxicity of Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) on the structure of human serum albumin (HSA) through in vitro and in silico studies, revealing significant conformational changes in the protein caused by ZnO NPs. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated that the interaction between HSA and ZnO NP is mainly due to electrostatic interactions.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Haonan Ruan, Yunyun Wang, Yong Hou, Jing Zhang, Jiashuo Wu, Fangqing Zhang, Ming Sui, Jiaoyang Luo, Meihua Yang
Summary: This study examines the cytotoxicity and metabolism of zearalenone-14-glucoside (Z14G) in human ovarian granulosa cells. The results suggest that Z14G cannot enter cells and exerts its cytotoxic effects through deglycosylation.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ilya Lyagin, Olga Maslova, Nikolay Stepanov, Elena Efremenko
Summary: New combined proteinous nanobiocatalysts were developed to destruct mycotoxins in mixtures. The selected enzymes and special biopolymers effectively stabilized the enzymes and reduced the negative effects of mycotoxins on animals in vivo. This study suggests that these nanobiocatalysts and enzymatic treatment could be a promising approach for ensuring food and feed chemical safety.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Raja Mohamed Beema Shafreen, Selvaraj Alagu Lakshmi, Shunmugiah Karutha Pandian, Young-Mo Kim, Joseph Deutsch, Elena Katrich, Shela Gorinstein
Summary: The study investigates the active ingredients in red wines and their interactions with serum proteins. Components like rutin, resveratrol, and tannic acid show good binding affinity and beneficial properties for potential clinical applications. Red wines contain flavonoids, non-flavonoids, and phenolic acids which can enhance biological activity by interacting with key regions of proteins.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Raquel Torrijos, Laura Righetti, Martina Cirlini, Luca Calani, Jordi Manes, Giuseppe Meca, Chiara Dall Asta
Summary: The phytochemical profile and bioactive fraction of yellow mustard and oriental mustard were studied. Various volatile compounds and phenolic compounds were identified, distinguishing the two mustard species. The bran fraction was found to be rich in bioactive compounds and could be used for the recovery of polyphenols.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Octavian Augustin Mihalache, Laura Carbonell-Rozas, Sara Cutroneo, Chiara Dall'Asta
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of mycotoxins in plant-based meat alternatives in Italy. Multiple mycotoxins were found in the analyzed samples, with the contamination levels ranging from 0.2 μg/kg to 66.9 μg/kg. The exposure assessment showed potential health concerns related to alternariol, aflatoxins, and ochratoxin A in certain plant-based meat alternatives.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Maria Mar Aparicio-Muriana, Renato Bruni, Francisco J. Lara, Monsalud del Olmo-Iruela, Maykel Hernandez-Mesa, Ana M. Garcia-Campana, Chiara Dall'Asta, Laura Righetti
Summary: The increased consumption of blue-green algae (BGA)-based dietary supplements has raised concerns about food safety due to cyanotoxin presence. A study employed ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to traveling wave ion mobility spectrometry/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-TWIMS-QTOF) to establish a comprehensive database for phycotoxins. Cyanotoxins were confidently identified in commercial BGA dietary supplements based on retention time, m/z, and collision cross section values.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
C. L. Manuelian, M. Pozza, M. Franzoi, F. Righi, U. Schmutz, M. De Marchi
Summary: This study compared the composition, minerals, and fatty acid profile of organic and conventional Italian cheeses. The results showed minimal differences in chemical composition between organic and conventional cheeses, regardless of the type considered. Asiago PDO fresco exhibited the fewest differences between organic and conventional varieties.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
M. Simoni, G. Fernandez-Turren, F. Righi, M. Rodriguez-Prado, S. Calsamiglia
Summary: A network meta-analysis was conducted to compare the effects of feeding feed-grade urea (FGU) or slow-release urea (SRU) as a replacement for true protein supplements (control; CTR) in high-producing dairy cattle diets. The study analyzed 44 research papers published between 1971 and 2021, and found that FGU and SRU did not have significant effects on nutrient intake, digestibility, N utilization, milk yield, and composition in most cases. However, FGU reduced the acetate proportion and SRU reduced the butyrate proportion compared to CTR. The study suggests that moderate doses of FGU may be justified in high-producing dairy cows due to its lower cost.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Octavian Augustin Mihalache, Chiara Dall'Asta
Summary: This study discusses the challenges in dietary exposure in chemical risk assessment, particularly due to the high percentage of left-censored data. The findings show that commonly used analytical methods can lead to an overestimation of human risk, resulting in economic implications on agricultural trades.
TRENDS IN FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Giuseppe Sammarco, Chiara Dall'Asta, Michele Suman
Summary: This study examines the use of NIR spectroscopy for assessing the geographical origin of Italian hazelnuts. It shows promising results in detecting false origin declarations in fresh, roasted, and paste hazelnuts, especially in relation to popular Italian varieties. The technology proves to be rapid, direct, non-destructive, and cost-effective, suggesting its strategic role in preventing and fighting illegal activities.
VIBRATIONAL SPECTROSCOPY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Lorenzo Pedroni, Florinda Perugino, Ambra Kurtaga, Gianni Galaverna, Chiara Dall'Asta, Luca Dellafiora
Summary: The bitter taste perception plays a crucial role in quickly detecting and avoiding potential toxic compounds in humans and animals. Through computational approaches, this study revealed the interaction between food-related toxic compounds and TAS2R46. The findings suggested that deoxynivalenol and its 15-acetylated derivative can activate TAS2R46, providing initial evidence for the involvement of TAS2R46 in the mechanism of deoxynivalenol action and emphasizing the importance of further investigating TAS2R46 and TAS2Rs in the adverse effects of deoxynivalenol and its congeners.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Laura Carbonell-Rozas, Arianna Alabrese, Raffaele Meloni, Laura Righetti, Massimo Blandino, Chiara Dall'Asta
Summary: Ergot alkaloids (EAs) were found to be widely present in major and minor cereals in the Mediterranean growing areas, especially under favorable weather conditions. The contamination of EAs was influenced by the harvest year, with 2020 showing the highest levels of contamination. There was a significant co-occurrence of EAs in the cereal samples, with 60% of the samples being contaminated. Rye was the most susceptible crop to fungal infection, while the accumulation of EAs in tritordeum and emmer was reported for the first time.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Giuseppe Sammarco, Chiara Dall'Asta, Michele Suman
Summary: Geographical provenience is important for the authenticity and quality of food products. In this study, a combination of UHPLC-HRMS analysis and multivariate statistical analysis was used to identify key compounds for distinguishing between Italian and non-Italian dehydrated apple samples. A total of 91 samples from 2020 and 2021 harvests, with different dehydration rates, peel/no peel, and apple varieties, were analyzed. The results highlight the potential of UHPLC-HRMS technology as a confirmatory strategy for assessing the geographical origin of dehydrated apple commodities.
JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Eleonora Rollo, Dante Catellani, Chiara Dall'Asta, Michele Suman
Summary: In recent years, there has been a growing interest in toxic plant alkaloids as food contaminants in the EU due to the increasing consumption of plant-based foods. The European Food Safety Authority has highlighted the need to develop risk assessment strategies and accurate analytical methods for detecting these tropane alkaloids (TAs) and pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). This study aims to develop and validate an analytical method using QuEChERS sample preparation approach and UHPLC coupled to HRMS to identify and quantify TAs and PAs in cereals and spices.
JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Laura Carbonell-Rozas, Federico Ferrari, Laura Righetti, Chiara Dall'Asta
Summary: Impressive advancements have been reported in mycotoxin analysis, but little attention has been paid to aligning the sample treatment with green sample preparation principles. This work proposes the use of a natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) for the extraction of mycotoxins in food samples, employing dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME) and DLLME with solidification of floating organic drop (DLLME-SFO) methodologies. The greenness of both methods was compared using the AGREEprep metric tool, with the DLLME-SFO method achieving a higher greenness score. The validated DLLME-SFO-HPLC-MS/MS method showed satisfactory linearity, low limits of detection and quantification, and high recoveries for the studied mycotoxins in apple juice and puree samples.
MICROCHEMICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Martina Cirlini, Laura Righetti, Lorenzo Del Vecchio, Elena Tonni, Luigi Lucini, Chiara Dall'Asta, Gianni Galaverna
Summary: Meat quality is influenced by animal feeding and various studies have shown that incorporating antioxidant components in animal feed can improve meat quality. In this study, an in vitro digestion protocol was applied to pork muscles obtained from pigs fed different diets. The results showed that the addition of linseeds and polyphenols in the animal diet reduced the metabolites generated from oxidative degradation reactions and improved meat quality.
Article
Toxicology
Lorenzo Pedroni, Jean Lou C. M. Dorne, Chiara Dall'Asta, Luca Dellafiora
Summary: Gelsedine-type alkaloids are highly toxic plant secondary metabolites produced by shrubs belonging to the Gelsemium genus. Gelsenicine is one of the most concerning gelsedine-type alkaloids with a lethal dose lower than 1 mg/Kg in mice. Several reported episodes of poisoning in livestock and fatality cases in humans due to the usage of Gelsemium plants extracts were reported. Also, gelsedine-type alkaloids were found in honey constituting a potential food safety issue. However, their toxicological understanding is scarce and the molecular mechanism underpinning their toxicity needs further investigations.
TOXICOLOGY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Raquel Torrijos, Laura Righetti, Martina Cirlini, Luca Calani, Jordi Manes, Giuseppe Meca, Chiara Dall'Asta
Summary: The objective of this study was to investigate the phytochemical profile of yellow and oriental mustard flour and bran fractions. The analysis revealed differences in volatile compounds and bioactive compounds between the two mustard species, with yellow mustard being richer in certain phenolic acids. Additionally, the volatile profile of yellow mustard seeds was described for the first time in this study. The findings suggest that the bran fraction, as a by-product of seed processing, is a valuable source of bioactive compounds for various applications.
LWT-FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2023)